The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-31
SAMUEL "a N J..RANDALL
IL MAsTER OF TIE SITUATION
Ana VIII hob Up sorensly whom Tariff Re.
duetion 10 Attompted-News Bris,llng
with Points on the Oullook-Randall
E5 Still an, Aggressive Protcctiouist,
ipteial Correspondence Of le Intel, ioe,eer.

| eS"~A " aASA a Aho PSlAs VIM ~ u
no longer q probability, and not even
respectable possibility. II Samuel J. Ran
dali and his forty odd protection Demo
crat followers were able to beat tho free
traders in the Forty.nlnth Congress, with
q Democratic majority Of iorty.fvs, 1t docs
not require knowledge of calculus to
figure out greater strength for him on tho
same proposition in the Flfliuth Congress,
with q Democratic majority Of fifteen.
There arc 40 many protection Democrats
In Congress to-day IS there wero two years
ago to-day, and maybo two Or throo more.
Mr.. Randall could dispense with fifteen Of
his Democratic Bupportor1 on the basis OF
tho last tariff fight, ard still defeat free
trade legislation by aste mejo,ity. II
anything has happened within two years
TO make Mr.. Randall less a protectionst
than no was two yeara ago, or than he was
twenty yeera ago, when he frat enternd
Congress, nobody has found 1t out. He
was sent here to be protec!ioniss, by 3
proaectionist constituency, aud he knows
where he belongs in the politics Of tho
country as well Ms any man in public life,
From the day Mr.. Randall killed the Fer.
nando Wood tariff reduction bill, years
ago, down to the time ho killed tho laat
Morrieon bill he was stronger than his
party, in the respect that he held tho bal.
anco Of power in the Heuae, and was great
enough TO use his power successfully in
the face OF formidable sntagonian. II Mr.,
Randall was in this sense
GREATER THAN HIS PARTY
two years ago, with his party majority OF
lorty.6ve, and his Democratic following Of
moro than forty, what must be said Of his
strength in his party to-day, with its re.
duced majority OF fifteen, when he has an
Increased number Of followers? Mr.. Ran
dali is q good deal stronger to-day than he
has ever been; and It'll very singular that
estute political observers can deceive
themselves into the belief that he is in A
frame Of mind to yield to FREQ trade per.
suasion. BE is to-day the absolute master
OF the situation. What he says ehell be
done will be done. That Ia the measure
OF tho situation. People who know Mr.,
Randall's build know that ttis will be the
result. 5T.r 'Nh71 a n :
This makes it very interesting to know
just what Mr.. Randall's proposition will
be-. A number of very confidential dis.
cloHures have been made lately by promi.
nent men here who are 'close" to the
great Pennsylvania Protsctionist, or who
are close to somebody else who IL close to
him. But now cometh said great Protec.
ZIONIST into court and averreth that never
g time hath he opened his mouth in rela.
ton thereto since the beheading Of the
les. Morrison bill. This places the per.
sons who have baen making these dis-
closures in slightly awkward position.
Randall saye ho has KEEP! his own counsel,
and no man-not even the President OF
the United States--knows his purpoee;
but ss to the fact that the Presidsnt'a pur.
|poBo is not his purpose no one need 20
astray. With his following in the Demo.
cratic camp and with the Republican
minority to support him in resisting q
reduction Of tariff dutien, Mr.. Randall 10
in C poaition to dictate. Ho can now
bring in his proposition to reduce revo.
nues by repeating various internal taxes.
In this move he will have q stronger sup.
port in his party than he would have on
the naked issue, as drawn On the Morri.
son bills, OF reduction Of import tariffs; !;
but his support will embrace both these
elements in tho proposition which he will
in all probability bring in or dictate. II
the proposition ia a, ,"com promise" it will
be compromise pretty much on one side.
Randall
He has never been known to yield an
inch unless compelled to by brute force.
It is optimiatic intatuation for any anti
tariff man to supposs that he is now going
to yield principle for which he has
fought lifetime-and fought as relent-
lesely and psrsistently, too, aa any man
ever did for a principle-when he Is 80
completely the boss Of the situation.
Democratic gentlemen Of anti-tarih
proclivities arc now beginning to realize
with painful appreciation the astuteness
OF Republican leaders in the tariff contests
Of the last ten years. The Republicans
have stood rs unit-with but an ineigni-
fcent deasction-against tariff reduction
and for the repeal or reduction OF internal
taxation. This isas completely,the policy Of
the Republican party to-day as any party
policy could be defined. Mr.. Randall ie
strictly in alignment with Republican
policy. He is committed to 1t over and
again and now that he is in q position to
thrust this odious policy down, the throats
OF his anti.tariE Democratic brethren, the
situation iH becoming embarrassing to the
brethren; to say the least and bo polite
about 1t. Hence 1t is that a number o.
leading Democratic gentlemen are saying
openly and decisively that rather
than allow Mr.. Randall to do this they
will stand defeat in Congress aftcr making
a record, and appeal to the country fol
vindication. This ID about the Democratic
situation to-day. No really smart Demo
crat thinks that there can bo any anti
tariff legislation in this Congreeo. Tht
only hope OF the party Is with the people
Tho Republicans will repeat their iorme
acts. They. will do nothing but resist tht
aggression OF those who wsnt to lower tn,
tariff fence. They argue that lowering tn,
fence will work injury in double sense
that 1t will increase instead Of reduce th'
revenues and colrespondingly diminish
tho protection afforded by tariff lawl
sgainst cheap foreign labor.
The question is important only as aI
issue before tho people. As far as Con
gress Is concerned, it might as we'll not bl
raiscd.;. Tho only purpose 1t will servt
will be to give Oongreasmen a chance t
work over their old arguments for use ii
tho campaign Of 1885, and this will be {
worry tircsome business. H
This is not a partisan acreed. It Is thl
result Of a careful survey. ! think
have been thinking over the subject YER!
carefully. &c. p.
TIE CAMPAIGN OPENED. h
Governor Hill Assists In Firing tho Firat Gu
| NJ I. l A for Cleveland. iSta.}E
NEW YoRx, Dec. \ sO.-The Harlem
Democratic Club held banquet in IT
Club House last evening, it's object being
in accordance with its motto, "First il